Apple Launches New iPhone 16e: What to Know

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Apple announced the iPhone 16 lineup in September, but it wasn’t done launching new phones. It was widely expected Apple would announce the latest iPhone SE this week, which was last refreshed in 2022. Instead, today Apple announced the iPhone 16e, which replaces the budget-friendly SE line. It will be available to preorder on Feb. 21 and release on Feb. 28.

The iPhone SE has long been popular among fans of small phones, thanks to its ultra-compact form factor and economical price. And while at $599, the iPhone 16e is cheaper than the iPhone 16, the dream of the tiny iPhone is dead. That’s because the iPhone 16e has a 6.1″ screen, which is the same size as the iPhone 16. The third-generation SE was just 4.7″ and cost $429.

What’s New With the iPhone 16e?

The newest iPhone borrows some of the most popular new features from the flagship line, including the action button, a physical customizable button for quick access to your favorite features. The 16e doesn’t include the camera control button, although the action button can be customized to open the camera app.

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Also on the hardware front, the phone features a single 48MP Fusion camera, similar to the single camera found on earlier SE models. As expected, the Lightning cable has been replaced by USB-C, bringing all of Apple’s new releases up to the same standard. The phone also replaces the Touch ID found on the 2022 iPhone SE with Face ID. The phone is wireless charging compatible, though it doesn’t have MagSafe compatibility.

The phone features Apple’s A18 chip and 6-core CPU, and it brings Apple Intelligence to the most affordable iPhone. Features include writing assistance and the ability to create unique Genmojis. The phone has an OLED 60 Hz display and up to 26 hours of video playback.

That marks a significant improvement upon the similarly sized iPhone 16, which has up to 22 hours of video playback. That makes battery life one of the standout features of the new iPhone, and Apple claims the new Apple C1 cellular modem helps keep the battery going longer.

The iPhone 16e will be available to preorder on Feb. 21 and release on Feb. 28, and you can shop cases below.

iPhone 16e Cases